Joe Riley ’49 Named to Mass Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2013

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2013 late Wednesday afternoon with former Dartmouth All-American Joe Riley ’49 included in the list of eight honorees.

Riley is a Medford, Mass., native and will be posthumously inducted alongside Boston Bruins legend and NHL great Bobby Orr as well as revered voice of Boston University Hockey and the Beanpot Jim Prior among others.

In all, six men and two women will receive the honor of induction on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at the Montvale Plaza in Stoneham with NESN Bruins studio host Dale Arnold serving as the Master of Ceremonies.

Joe, a member of the famed Riley Brothers unit that included Jack ’44 and Bill ’46, remains to this day one of the most decorated players in Dartmouth hockey history despite playing in just two seasons in Hanover.

Riley’s name still sits atop the single-season goals mark with 45 in the 1947-48 season, a figure that will likely be untouched again. His 67 career goals in just two seasons from 1947-49 rank fourth all-time in the program’s 107-year history.

His 77 points in his final campaign are the second-most by any Dartmouth player ever. However, the only player to surpass that total was his brother Bill, who had 78 that same winter.

In addition to his role in helping lead Dartmouth to consecutive berths in the inaugural NCAA Men’s Hockey Frozen Fours of 1948 and 1949, Riley also represented his country at the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland alongside his brother Jack and seven collegiate teammates.

Despite losing to Michigan in the 1948 national championship game, Riley was named the tournament’s MVP after scoring four goals and adding an assist in the 8-4 semifinal victory over Colorado College in their own home rink.

Already a member of the US Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2002, Riley began his collegiate career at the University of Illinois along while also serving in the military during World War II before transferring to Dartmouth to play alongside his two brothers.

Riley passed away in 1975 at the age of 52.

The Complete Class of 2013:

Bruins legend Bobby Orr

Dartmouth College All-American and 1948 Olympian Joe Riley (Medford)

Legendary Belmont Hill coach Ken Martin (Framingham)

Voice of BU Hockey and The Beanpot Jim Prior (Arlington)

Dean of NHL scouting Gary Eggleston (Wakefield)

Sled hockey pioneer Dale Wise (Needham)

Brockton Youth Hockey builder Marion Sturdevant (Brockton)

Massachusetts Hockey builder Carol Champagne (Easton)

Another Dartmouth connection to this group of eight Hall of Fame inductees is Ken Martin who coached current Big Green forward Brandon McNally’15 when he played at Belmont Hill.

Pictured with his brothers, Jack (middle) and Bill (right), Joe (left) is one of the most celebrated players in Dartmouth hockey history.

Inductees to the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame are chosen on the basis of accomplishments in the game of hockey, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to his or her teams or organizations in college, amateur or professional hockey, or on international teams representing the United States. Each nominee must have distinguished himself or herself by exceptional performance and outstanding character reflecting favorably upon the game of hockey in Massachusetts, be in good public standing in the community, an appropriate role model for young hockey players and an exemplary representative of the game of hockey.

Massachusetts Hockey, Inc., is a not-for-profit tax exempt organization which serves as the affiliate association of USA Hockey, Inc., and is the official governing body for the sport of hockey in Massachusetts. As such, its purposes and objectives are to develop, advance and encourage participation in the sport of hockey; to develop and encourage sportsmanship between all players for the betterment of their physical and social well-being; to develop and improve the standards of the sport; and to educate and train players, coaches, referees, managers, administrators and parents. For more information, visit www.masshockey.com